Page 68 of An Empress of Air & Chaos

Emara couldn’t help a smile forming on her face. “Great, I am starving.”

Her stomach groaned at the thought of food. She had been so consumed about getting into her grandmother’s gallery that she had forgotten to eat all day.

“Hey, girl,” Cally walked towards her in a pastel blue dress that revealed almost ninety percent of her legs and a pair of silver heels. Her hair bounced in curls as she scampered along the hall.

Emara was glad to see her best friend. It eliminated every other thought she had about today.

“Damn, Callyn. You look amazing! Why are you so dressed up? Are you ever out of the markets these days?”

“And that is why you are my best friend. Even with limited resources around this place, you still tell me I look great.” She flicked her wavy hair over her shoulder. “And no, they are my new favourite thing. I am basically best friends with the fabric stall owner.”

“That’s because you do look amazing. What’s the occasion? It can’t be for dinner with...them.” She gestured to the Hunters who had walked by, giving Cally a nod.

Cally laughed and linked her arm with Emara’s as they walked through the room. She was fully aware every guy’s eyes took in her long legs and she milked it. “It’s not for the Hunters. Do you remember La Luna guy?”

Not really, Emara thought as she tried to run through the faces of the La Luna crowd. It was all a blur except for dancing, shots, and piercing ocean-blue eyes.

She banished the memory.

Quickly!

“Nope, I can’t get a face,” Emara said as they entered the line for food.

“Well, La Luna guy gave me an address to a soiree tonight and invited me to come along.” Her eyes dazzled with naughtiness. “It’s in the markets. Tell me you’re coming, right?” She pressed a silver tray into her chest in excitement.

Emara half laughed as she picked up a tray.

“Well, are you coming?”

“Um…I think I am going to sit this one out. I am super tired, and I’ve walked all day—”

“Walked all day? To where? How come I wasn’t invited?” Cally laughed as she looked at what was on offer to eat.

“I wanted to go and say goodbye to my grandmother, so I walked to Mossgrave—but you can’t tell anyone.” Emara’s mouth tightened as she looked down at her food tray. Cally was missing major information, like the fact that she had set a building on a fire to hide the knowledge that her grandmother was a witch. She swallowed.

“And how do you feel now?”

“I am not sure.” Emara chewed her cheek.

“If you want me to stay in tonight—”

“No way, go and enjoy yourself. You deserve to let your hair down.”

“Emara, I am here when you want to talk.”

“I know. I have some things to fill you in on, but it can wait.” Emara faked a smile. “I will talk when I am ready.”.

She still hadn’t filled Cally in on what happened with Taymir. Although she desperately wanted to keep it locked down in the pits of her soul, she knew she would need to speak to someone about it.

“Emara—”

“Honestly, I am fine,” she nipped by accident, letting the frustrations of her thoughts come out wrong.

A little hurt showed on Cally’s face and she put down her tray. “Okay, well, you can come and find me when you are ready to talk.”

Cally left, flicking her hair over her shoulder, her eyes pooling with something unusual.

Emara rolled her eyes and let out a massive sigh, allowing the air to puff in her cheeks. That’s all she needed today. She hadn’t meant to snap at Cally or hurt her.

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